The hard court swing post the 2024 Australian Open is well underway. The ATP 250 event at Delray Beach sees top American players along with young hopefuls hoping to nab important ranking points for the rest of the season. As ever, we at LWOT preview and predict the four Round of 16 matches scheduled for you.
ATP Delray Beach Day 4 Predictions
Flavio Cobolli vs Zachary Svajda
Head to head – First Meeting
Both are young 21 year olds and both do look like having a good future in tennis. The Italian Flavio Cobolli has started 2024 with a bang, reaching the third round in the Australian Open and backing that up with a quarter-final run in the recently concluded Montpellier Open.
He faces the qualifier American Zachary Svajda who has done well to come through a tough qualifying and first round. Expect a very tight contest with the Italian just edging it on the basis of recent form.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Nicolas Moreno De Alboran vs Jordan Thompson
Head to head – First Meeting
Jordan Thompson has begun in resounding fashion this week taking out Dan Evans in a pretty one-sided contest. He now faces the lesser-known qualifier American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran who is likely to struggle against the baseline quality of the Australian. Thompson has had a decent start to the year and expect him to reach the last eight here.
Prediction: Thompson in 2
Alex Michelsen vs Tommy Paul
Head to head – First Meeting
Alex Michelsen is a pretty exciting talent who did show a glimpse of his potential in his first round win over a pretty experienced player in Thanasi Kokkinakis. Unfortunately for him, he takes on Tommy Paul who recently won the championship at Dallas. Expect Michelsen to maybe nick a set here due to fatigue in Paul but the quality of Paul should see him through.
Prediction: Paul in 3
Radu Albot vs Frances Tiafoe
Head to head – First Meeting
Frances Tiafoe will be looking this week to turnaround his mediocre start to 2024. The American has had very little success this year and he’ll be disappointed because he’s far more capable than that. He is still ranked 15th in the world and seeded second here which should give him a decent draw to navigate in the beginning.
Radu Albot is 34 years old and while he has his moments, it is tough to see how he will toe to toe with the serve and baseline quality of Tiafoe. Expect a strong start here from Tiafoe.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
